Declan Donnelly has cracked an awkward joke about Ant McPartlin's absence from the jungle six days ahead of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! launch.

The telly favourite shared a snap of himself with temporary co-host Holly Willoughby, who is standing in for Ant on this year's series after his drink-drive shame and substance abuse problems.

Posting the picture of him and Holly on the official Ant and Dec Instagram, Dec wrote: "Ant's looking well don't you think!? I'm joking of course, Holly and I are looking forward to welcoming you to Australia next Sunday night. D."

The first official snap of the new I'm A Celeb presenting team (Image: ITV)

The photo shows Holly wearing a thigh-skimming tan suede mini-dress and posing with one hand on Dec's shoulder, showing off her wedding ring.

It's the first time in 16 years that Ant and Dec won't present the jungle show together, after Ant pulled out citing fears for his sobriety.

He was embroiled in a drink-drive car crash back in March and was convicted after pleading guilty in court, where a judge banned him from the road for 20 months and fined him a record £86,000.

Holly and Dec have been hanging out in Australia ahead of the show's launch (Image: Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)